Risk

Reinsurance Strategies 2005: Stability?

Faced with the alluring prospect of a second year of acceptable profitability, the tension within the offices of Canadian licensed reinsurers is easing - but not underwriting discipline, at least according to the senior management responses in CU's annual "reinsurance strategic outlook" for 2005. While rates and terms for next year's reinsurance treaty renewals will likely remain stable, at least for most classes of business, reinsurer CEOs remain wary of the mistakes of the past, and point to the volatility of global catastrophe losses over the past year as well as uncertainty regarding the long-term effectiveness of the provincial auto insurance reforms.

October 31, 2004

18 min read

Captives Go Mainstream

The once exotic world of captives is opening up for risk managers as they seek out solutions to a challenging insurance market. The traditional offshore domiciles are experiencing growth in captive numbers and premiums written, while new domiciles are being created through captive legislation, specifically in the U.S. But, experts say captives are more than just a passing solution to a temporary lack of available, affordable commercial insurance - they are a long-term investment requiring focus and commitment.

October 31, 2004

9 min read

Fear Factor

With personal auto insurance rates across the country having peaked almost a year ago, and insurers' financial results now beginning to show consistent strength, the dark cloud of despair that had hung over the Canadian property and casualty insurance industry over recent years seem to be dissipating. However, the political environment surrounding the auto market remains volatile, a panel of insurer CEOs speaking at this years' Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario (IBAO) convention say. And, the "cost of the past" in terms of inadequate reserving, as well as brittle relations between companies, brokers and the insuring public as a result of the steep pricing and lack of coverage availability of the latest hard market, are hurdles that have yet to be overcome, they say.

October 31, 2004

7 min read

Pembridge Cuts Back Business in Alberta

While insurer Pembridge is not withdrawing from the Alberta auto market, the company is scaling back its business there. In interview, Pembridge CEO Bob Tisdale said the decision, which has resulted in a significant number of employee lay-offs, was a difficult one to make. “This certainly wasn’t our first choice,” he says. The decision followed […]

October 31, 2004

1 min read